Ultraprocessed Food Labels for Healthy Eating

Overseen By Aline D'Angelo Campos, MPP

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Disqualifiers: Under 18, Not Chile resident, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 1

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial aims to determine if warning labels indicating a product is ultraprocessed affect purchasing behavior. Researchers seek to understand the effectiveness of these labels both independently and in combination with nutrient warnings. Participants will evaluate various food products, assessing their likelihood of purchase and whether they perceive the products as ultraprocessed. This study targets parents or guardians in Chile with children aged 2-14, who have not experienced diabetes or related conditions. As an unphased trial, it provides participants the opportunity to contribute to significant research that could impact public health policies.

Do I have to stop taking my current medications for this trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It seems focused on food labeling and purchase intentions, so it's unlikely that your medications would be affected.

What prior data suggests that ultraprocessed warning labels are safe for use in consumer studies?

Research shows that the warning labels themselves do not pose a safety concern. This trial focuses on testing a label for ultraprocessed foods. It's important to understand that the label is not a drug or medical treatment, so there are no physical side effects to consider.

The goal is to determine if these labels influence people's decisions about buying ultraprocessed foods. Studies have shown that consuming large amounts of ultraprocessed food can be linked to health issues, such as heart problems and obesity. However, this trial examines only the labels, not the food itself. Therefore, participants do not face any health risks from the labels in this study. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about the ultraprocessed food warning labels because they offer a new approach to encouraging healthier eating habits. Unlike traditional nutritional education methods, which rely on consumers actively seeking information, these labels provide immediate, easy-to-understand warnings directly on the packaging. This method aims to influence consumer choices at the point of purchase, potentially leading to healthier eating patterns without requiring extensive dietary knowledge. By highlighting the potential health risks of ultraprocessed foods, these labels could make it easier for people to make informed decisions quickly.

What evidence suggests that ultraprocessed warning labels are effective for influencing purchase intentions?

This trial will evaluate the impact of ultraprocessed food warning labels on healthy eating. Research has shown that such labels can increase awareness of the health risks associated with these foods. One study found that when adults in the US saw an "ultraprocessed" label, they considered the health risks more seriously and were less likely to purchase the product. Another experiment suggested that these labels can help people identify ultraprocessed foods, although they don't always change purchasing behavior. Consuming large amounts of ultraprocessed foods is linked to health problems like heart issues and mental health disorders. This suggests that warning labels might encourage healthier choices by highlighting these risks. ^{2 6 7 8 9}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Aline D'Angelo Campos, MPP

Principal Investigator

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for Chilean parents. It's designed to see if warning labels on ultraprocessed foods influence their intention to buy these products and help them recognize such foods more easily.

Inclusion Criteria

Residing in Chile

I am the parent of a child aged 2-14 without a diabetes diagnosis.

Exclusion Criteria

Not residing in Chile

I am under 18 years old.

I am not the parent or guardian of a child aged 2-14 without a diabetes-related diagnosis.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1 week

Intervention

Participants complete an online randomized experiment to evaluate the impact of ultraprocessed food warning labels

10 minutes

1 online session

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

1 week

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Ultraprocessed warning label

Trial Overview The study tests the effect of ultraprocessed food warning labels on purchase intentions among participants, comparing a group that sees these warnings with a control group that does not. All participants will evaluate three similar ultraprocessed products.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Ultraprocessed warning label Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,588

Recruited

4,364,000+

Instituto de Nutrición y Tecnología de los Alimentos

Collaborator

Trials

12

Recruited

9,000+

Bloomberg Philanthropies

Collaborator

Trials

5

Recruited

19,900+

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC11013171/

How Promising Are “Ultraprocessed” Front-of-Package ... Our study found that an “ultraprocessed” label made US adults think more about the risks of eating the product and discouraged them from ...

2. bmj.com bmj.com/content/384/bmj-2023-077310

Ultra-processed food exposure and adverse health outcomes Greater exposure to ultra-processed food was associated with a higher risk of adverse health outcomes, especially cardiometabolic, common mental disorder, and ...

3. nature.com nature.com/articles/s41591-025-03842-0

Ultraprocessed or minimally processed diets following ... Results were consistent when analyzing data from the first-period diets only, with significant differences of 1.86% in %WC between diets.

4. eatrightpro.org eatrightpro.org/news-center/practice-trends/nutrition-fact-check-ultra-processed-foods

Nutrition Fact Check: Ultra-Processed Foods Nutrition Fact Check: Ultra-Processed Foods · Health Impacts. Observational studies have consistently linked high intakes of UPFs with adverse health outcomes.

5. ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com ijbnpa.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s12966-024-01664-w

“Warning: ultra-processed”: an online experiment examining ... Ultra-processed warning labels may help consumers better identify UPFs, although they do not seem to influence behavioral intentions and product perceptions.

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8666852/

ultra-processed' — A call for warnings on foods that aren't ... Ultra-processed foods are made using industrial processes, are ready-to-eat, have more than five ingredients, and a long shelf-life. They are not real foods.

7. health.harvard.edu health.harvard.edu/nutrition/ultra-processed-foods-linked-to-poor-health-outcomes

Ultra-processed foods linked to poor health outcomes Participants consuming the highest amounts of ultra-processed food were far more likely to have significantly higher body mass index, waist size ...

8. fda.gov fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/hhs-fda-and-usda-address-health-risks-ultra-processed-foods

HHS, FDA and USDA Address the Health Risks of Ultra ... Dozens of scientific studies have found links between the consumption of foods often considered ultra-processed with numerous adverse health ...

9. ahajournals.org ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001365

Ultraprocessed Foods and Their Association With ... Although UPF-rich diets are strongly linked to adverse health outcomes, developing nutrition guidance and policy based solely on the Nova ...